[woodman650]

Hi all,

My wife and are I set to have our first kid and we recently got a small dog as well. As such I've started considering picking up a small 4 door car to make life a bit easier. I don't have a huge budget ($25k) and have been spoiled by owning the 135i. Before I head out and begin test driving I'm hoping to narrow down relevant options given my fondness for the engine/auto transmission in the 1er. I know the 1er is in a class of its own but any thoughts/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I did test drive a new VW Golf this morning and it wasn't horrible, but the auto transmission wasn't smooth at all. The GTI, however, was revving all over the place and was a bit too hot hatch for me.

Thanks in advance!

[Red Bread]

We traded our n54 135i on our X1 35i. It's heavier and has the N55 and awd, but surprisingly drives very much like the 135i, gets slightly better mileage and hauls the dog easily. Our kid's due in January and I think the X1 should work great for all of that.

But sticking to your budget and adding the option for my preferred transmission, a manual, the GTI is a great choice and something I've personally considered, if the GTI was a bit too high strung, the GTD supposedly will one day show up over here. The new F55 five door Mini Cooper is smaller and pricier than the GTI, but I still like the idea. The Mazda 3s is finally available with a manual and I like the wagon styling. Worth considering a Focus ST or Fiesta ST too.

[phantomF80]

We also have an X1, though it's a sDrive 2.8. I think the N20 is a pretty good engine as long as you don't rev it too much, and the ZF 8 speed is quite impressive. If you don't mind buying used, you should be able to get a 2013 model for mid to high $20's.

[Nkc]

Congrats on the baby and the dog. Are you planning to keep or get rid of the 1er?

[Efthreeoh]

Ford Escape. C-Max.

[BMW269]

THIS

...also has ///M package, so you won't miss the 135i.

[woodman650]

Thank you all for the recommendations.

Originally Posted by Nkc

Congrats on the baby and the dog. Are you planning to keep or get rid of the 1er?

Thanks, it's been a busy year -- right now I'm hoping to hold onto the 1er but the reality is I'll probably part with it after purchasing this new car to keep things simple while the family is growing.

Originally Posted by phantomF80

We also have an X1, though it's a sDrive 2.8. I think the N20 is a pretty good engine as long as you don't rev it too much, and the ZF 8 speed is quite impressive. If you don't mind buying used, you should be able to get a 2013 model for mid to high $20's.

The X1 is definitely on the list. Our local dealer actually has one used right now that is low miles and is right around the budget. I may go check it out today.

Originally Posted by Levi

THIS

...also has ///M package, so you won't miss the 135i.

Yes, that would check most of our boxes! Any idea whether or not that's coming to NA?

[biggie27]

how about the mazda 3 or the mazda 6 both are in your price range brand new and the 3 looks awsome very sporty and cool, you can also look into subaru those things are bullet proof and some of them are in your price range

[Mavus]

acura tsx wagon

[KingOfJericho]

I have an Audi S4 and even that is a tight squeeze when using a rear facing car seat. We did use my father's 2009 GTI for a week this summer and it actually fit pretty well but you wouldn't want it behind you. Another option is to buy whatever sedan you like and just put the carrier in the center of the rear seat.

The infant carrier days go by really quickly but they just extended the recommended rear facing convertible time from 12M to 24M so you'll realistically have a rear facing seat behind you for almost two years. That's a long time to be uncomfortable so make sure you test fit the seat in whatever car you look at.

The thread title made me laugh because you'll find out very quickly that "small" and "family" don't go together when talking cars.

[bimmerbuff]

Originally Posted by woodman650

Yes, that would check most of our boxes! Any idea whether or not that's coming to NA?

I don't think anything's been officially confirmed. I would say mid-2015 at the earliest, if they decide to bring it across the pond.

[woodman650]

Originally Posted by biggie27

how about the mazda 3 or the mazda 6 both are in your price range brand new and the 3 looks awsome very sporty and cool, you can also look into subaru those things are bullet proof and some of them are in your price range

Thanks Biggie... I was actually considering the 3, I'll add that to the list!

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I have an Audi S4 and even that is a tight squeeze when using a rear facing car seat. We did use my father's 2009 GTI for a week this summer and it actually fit pretty well but you wouldn't want it behind you. Another option is to buy whatever sedan you like and just put the carrier in the center of the rear seat.

The infant carrier days go by really quickly but they just extended the recommended rear facing convertible time from 12M to 24M so you'll realistically have a rear facing seat behind you for almost two years. That's a long time to be uncomfortable so make sure you test fit the seat in whatever car you look at.

The thread title made me laugh because you'll find out very quickly that "small" and "family" don't go together when talking cars.

Haha, that's the challenge I may have to lower my expectations a little bit. But great points about test fitting the carrier. Thank you

[DocWeatherington]

GTI

[Vigilante375]

How about a Chevy Cruze or a Hyundai Elentra or Sonata?

I had a Cruze LTZ as a rental for a couple months and a Elantra as one for a few days. The Elantra is a bit bigger but both cars were great rides and under your budget, especially the Cruze.....depending on what model you choose.

Heck, you might even be able to get a '14 Camry for a hell of a price since the brand new '15 Camry is just starting to show up at dealers.

[Nkc]

With a rear facing baby seat, you'll want to consider something with a bit more leg room in the rear or the front passenger will be sitting like an old Chinese lady.

The new 3er is horrible for something like this so I can't imagine anything smaller.

[TSM330i]

Congrats on the family addition!

My wife and I have one kid also. Do yourself a favor and get the biggest vehicle you can within your budget. My wife went from an e90 sedan to a 2012 X3. The added space is MUCH appreciated, not only for the kid, but for others that ride in the car. My wife sits in the back when I drive and the leg room with our X3 is stellar. She sits behind me (I'm 6'1") and she has plenty of leg room to be comfortable. There is ample room in the back to haul quite a bit of stuff as well. If you have a dog too, you'll want as much space as you can get.
We can also fit my in-laws in the X3 with us (including a full-blown Recaro child seat - my little one is 2-1/2 years old now. My in-laws are not small either. My wife is in good shape, so that does help.
Bottom line, get the biggest vehicle you can. It'll definitely pay off in the long run.

That being said, if I were you, I'd look at a Subaru. They have a great line-up and the price is right in where you want to be. The Forester has about as much room as the X3 and quite a bit more rear legroom than an X1. If you increase your budget to about $28K (actual price, not MSRP), you can get an XT Premium with the 250hp turbo engine.

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by TSM330i

Congrats on the family addition!

My wife and I have one kid also. Do yourself a favor and get the biggest vehicle you can within your budget. My wife went from an e90 sedan to a 2012 X3. The added space is MUCH appreciated, not only for the kid, but for others that ride in the car. My wife sits in the back when I drive and the leg room with our X3 is stellar. She sits behind me (I'm 6'1") and she has plenty of leg room to be comfortable. There is ample room in the back to haul quite a bit of stuff as well. If you have a dog too, you'll want as much space as you can get.
We can also fit my in-laws in the X3 with us (including a full-blown Recaro child seat - my little one is 2-1/2 years old now. My in-laws are not small either. My wife is in good shape, so that does help.
Bottom line, get the biggest vehicle you can. It'll definitely pay off in the long run.

That being said, if I were you, I'd look at a Subaru. They have a great line-up and the price is right in where you want to be. The Forester has about as much room as the X3 and quite a bit more rear legroom than an X1. If you increase your budget to about $28K (actual price, not MSRP), you can get an XT Premium with the 250hp turbo engine.

Seconded.

When there's a baby and dogs, size matters. You might want to take more road trips or outdoor family adventures and you'll need all the space you can get to comfortably seat at least 4 people and some pooches while lugging around a ton of useless precautionary junk in the trunk.

[RedlinePSI]

Originally Posted by woodman650

Thank you all for the recommendations.



Thanks, it's been a busy year -- right now I'm hoping to hold onto the 1er but the reality is I'll probably part with it after purchasing this new car to keep things simple while the family is growing.




The X1 is definitely on the list. Our local dealer actually has one used right now that is low miles and is right around the budget. I may go check it out today.



Yes, that would check most of our boxes! Any idea whether or not that's coming to NA?

Then why not get rid of it now and bump up your budget? Unless of course you want all the cash in hand. I would think you can at least make a plea to take a small portion and put it towards the new car. Bank the rest.

[KingOfJericho]

Take a look at the VW CC. They're heavily discounted right now and it's a pretty stylish ride for a reasonable price.

[FeckinSpaceman]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Take a look at the VW CC. They're heavily discounted right now and it's a pretty stylish ride for a reasonable price.

Agreed.................I actually had a 2011 CC R-Line, 2.0T, 6 spd..... loved it! Wish I hadn't gotten ride of it. I would take it over a Hyundai any day of the week.

[KingOfJericho]

I actually leased a Reflex Silver 2014 CC R Line yesterday and take delivery this weekend. They knocked nearly $7,000 off the price. My lease payments are $300 on the button with $3k total out of pocket and 12k/yr.

[FeckinSpaceman]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I actually leased a Reflex Silver 2014 CC R Line yesterday and take delivery this weekend. They knocked nearly $7,000 off the price. My lease payments are $300 on the button with $3k total out of pocket and 12k/yr.

Solid buy